Surface-mount connector with high-degree flatness

Abstract

The connector comprises a housing ( 7 ) having a soldering portion ( 6, 15 A or 15 B) and a reinforcing metal member ( 5 ) movably attached to the housing such that it is vertically movable when it is soldered to a board ( 12 ). The reinforcing metal member is provided with a groove ( 14 ) to form with the solderable portion a gap between them, which permits soldering by capillary effects.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A surface-mount connector comprising: 
       a housing ( 7 ) having at least one solderable portion;  
       at least one lead terminal supported by said housing;  
       at least one reinforcing metal member ( 5 ) movably attached to said housing such that said reinforcing metal member is movable with respect to a board ( 12 ) when it is soldered to said board to fix said surface-mount connector; and  
       means ( 14 ) for forming a gap between said reinforcing metal member and said solderable portion of said housing such that said reinforcing metal member is fixed to said solderable portion by soldering by capillary effects.  
     
     
       2. A surface-mount connector comprising: 
       a housing ( 7 );  
       at least one lead terminal supported by said housing;  
       at least one fixing metal member ( 6 ) fixed to said housing;  
       at least one reinforcing metal member ( 5 ) movably attached to said such that said reinforcing metal member is movable with respect to a board ( 12 ) when it is soldered to said board to fix said surface-mount connector; and  
       means ( 14 ) for forming a gap between said fixing metal member and said reinforcing metal member such that said reinforcing metal member is fixed to said fixing metal member by soldering by capillary effects.  
     
     
       3. The surface-mount connector according to claim  1 , wherein said lead terminal is vertically movable with respect to said board when it is soldered to said board. 
     
     
       4. The surface-mount connector according to claim  2 , wherein said lead terminal is vertically movable with respect to said board when it is soldered to said board. 
     
     
       5. A surface-mount connector comprising; 
       a housing made from at least one shield plate ( 15 A or  15 B);  
       at least one lead terminal supported by said housing;  
       at least one reinforcing metal member ( 5 A or  5 B) movably attached to said shield plate such that said reinforcing metal member is movable with respect to a board ( 12 ) when it is soldered to said board to fix said surface-mount connector; and  
       means ( 16  and  17 ) for forming a gap between said reinforcing metal member and said shield plate such that said reinforcing metal member is fixed to said shield plate by soldering by capillary effects.  
     
     
       6. The surface-mount connector according to claim  5 , wherein said lead terminal is vertically movable with respect to said board. 
     
     
       7. The surface-mount connector according to one of claims  1 - 5 , which further comprises a groove provided in one or both of said gap forming members.